Slut and Fat are Dirty Words—Let’s Keep Them That Way

Only in a time such as the one we’re living in, where an obsession with equality has overridden common sense, would I ever have to make it clear that being a slut is bad. In fact, so is being fat.

For some reason, a large portion of the liberal ideology nowadays is devoted to changing the meaning of words and labels rather than the individuals they are ascribed to. If being obese is defined by doctors as unhealthy, the so-called ‘progressives’ would rather flood medical vocabulary with euphemisms rather than educate people on what a healthy body actually looks like.

If the definition of slut is one who has many casual partners, the progressives would prefer to shift the cultural outlook on these types of people rather than fight for personal freedom but retain the principles of monogamy.

The reason why I find terms like fat-shaming and slut-shaming problematic is because they begin with the base assumption that those two things, being fat and being a slut, are inherently good qualities. Supposedly, if you disapprove of anyone for possessing those traits, you are an intolerant bully.

This is true in regard to things like gay-bashing, where individuals are persecuted and shamed for something that they cannot control; criticism based on inalienable traits is never OK. But when it comes to the things in your life that can be changed, particularly if they are dangerous, we must be willing to acknowledge that certain lifestyles should be rectified.

Food and sex addictions exist, but it’s ultimately up to you to control how much you eat, both in the kitchen and in the bedroom.

In the past, I’ve mentioned that I dislike the act of degrading and bullying people based on their weight and appearance. Indeed, negative reinforcement can be highly unproductive and often bolsters the emotions that lead to overeating.

Equally, however, I dislike how the term fat-shaming is used to silence anyone who will not practice fat acceptance. Teasing and insulting people is terrible, but that doesn’t necessarily negate the reason why one may find themselves to be the subject of criticism.

The same applies to ‘sluts.’ Let us not be so delusional as to believe that polyamory and unrestrained sexual activity do not lead to serious problems for both individuals and families.

Yes, the word, slut, has been used to demean and oppress women. It is recklessly thrown around and attributed to girls regardless of whether they genuinely exhibit promiscuous behaviour. However, that doesn’t mean actually being a ‘slut’ is any better or less demeaning.

No good can come from trying to reappropriate the insulting label of ‘slut’ to mean anything that is remotely neutral or even complimentary. It is an incredibly loaded word that is meant to describe a type of behaviour that goes beyond the boundaries of good taste.

Our society should be one which allows people to live their life the way they please. In most cases, it should be no business of the government to decide how you gain pleasure and to what extent. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to culturally enforce certain boundaries in regard to the upkeep of physical and mental health, both of which can be marred by an unhealthy attitude towards weight and sexuality.

It is our hope that we can provide the next generation with as much freedom as possible, so long as we first educate them on the less destructive paths to satisfaction and happiness.

In a way, the acceptance of an overweight body image, as well as a sexually dissolute lifestyle, have been reactionary. The Adonis and Madonna-like portrayal of men and women in the media has created deep resentment, now fostered under this ‘body positivity’ movement. The use of wanton pejoratives to demean women who display any desire for sex or intimacy has created a spiteful generation who no longer see value in encouraging a sexually conservative mindset.

There are multiple parties to blame, here. Clearly, though, the reaction hasn’t been any better than the radicalism it was spawned from.

The words ‘fat’ and ‘slut’ remain insulting for a reason.

It is objectively dangerous to be obese, and no one wants to think that their life or appearance is suffering because of what they put into their body.

It is dangerous to engage in overly promiscuous behaviour, as that lifestyle carries with it a lot of risks, from emotional distress to diseases, unwanted babies, and so on; no one wants to be viewed as someone who has betrayed proper discernment.

Of course, we should not insult people in order to jumpstart their progress. However, merely recognising that a friend or family member might need to make a change, and informing them in a respectful manner, is not in anyway ‘shaming’ them.

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6 comments

Good observations. We need to encourage perceptions and behavior that make people happy and not feel too unique from other people, as in the long run feeling unique makes us unhappy.. When I’m fat (my weight has been a cycle of ups and downs) I’m not happy. Any degree of validation is destroyed as soon as I look in the mirror. I accept LBGT people. I just think they’re stupid for revealing they are gay because it probably makes them feel more unique than they already do. Some things are meant to be kept secret.

I don’t think them staying in the closet is a good alternative or way of living, at all. If you accept them, it shouldn’t be an issue of whether or not they choose to ‘come out’ as queer. I’m pretty sure most LGBT people aren’t going around telling people their sexuality, anyway.